Salsaria’s project proceeding in Tecumseh

Tuesday

Jan 21, 2014 at 2:00 PM

By David FrownfelderDaily Telegram Staff Writer

The environmental assessment and cleanup of the proposed Salsaria’s restaurant in Tecumseh is expected to start soon. The Tecumseh City Council approved a contract Monday with Soil and Materials Engineers (SME) of Plymouth to oversee the work on the property at 144-146 E. Chicago Blvd.

Paula Holtz, Tecumseh economic development director, said the company has been working with the restaurant owners since the project began last year. The $220,000 Clean Michigan Initiative grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will help pay for the work.

“(SME) will bill us, but all of this will be covered by the grant and by the local owners,” Holtz said. “No money will be coming out of the city’s pockets.”

She told the council in December that under an agreement with the previous owner of the building, the city will be reimbursed by Salsaria’s. The cleanup work is needed because the site was formerly used for dry-cleaning operations and was found to have a tetrachloroethylene chemical contamination in a soil pile in the basement and also in groundwater at the site.

Salsaria’s, which operates a restaurant in Adrian, will be opening a second restaurant in the former Ivy Gallery building. Holtz said they are looking at removing the back addition to the building to allow for easier access to the building, which is located in a tight area downtown.

“They are still formulating the plans, which have to be approved by MDEQ,” she said. “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes.”

Once the MDEQ approves the plans, work will start. But Holtz said they do not yet have a starting date.